Exertional Heat-Stroke Management Practices and Intentions Among Secondary School Football Athletic Trainers

The initial visibility of updated recommendations on preseason heat safety in high school athletics among United States athletic trainers

Updated recommendations on preseason heat safety in high school (HS) athletics ("2021 Consensus Statements") were published in April 2021. This cross-sectional survey study explored the initial roll-out of the 2021 Consensus Statements, including their visibility among United States HS athletic trainers (ATs) and perceived levels of confidence in implementing them. Recruitment occurred first, from a random selection of ATs from the Board of Certification, Inc., and second, an open invitation via social media. An online cross-sectional questionnaire had participating ATs note whether they had seen the 2021 Consensus Statements. If yes, ATs reported their perceived level of confidence in implementing them (5-point-ordinal scale from "not at all confident" to "very confident); if no, ATs disclosed (open-ended) why they had not yet seen them. Descriptive statistics were calculated for quantitative variables; template analysis identified codes related to visibility of and confidence in implementing 2021 Consensus Statements. Nearly half (45.7%) of 116 responding HS ATs reported having seen at least one 2021 Consensus Statements; 23.3% had reviewed all three. Common reasons among the 63 that had not seen them included: not aware they were published (n = 22), have yet to read them (n = 19), and believed they could not access the journal (n = 10). Of the 53 ATs having seen at least one of the 2021 Consensus Statements, 67.9% (n = 36) were very/fairly confident in implementing them at their HS. Reasons for confidence included their schools ensuring up-to-date EHI prevention and management practices (n = 18) and athletics constituent support (n = 8). This exploratory study observed proportions of surveyed HS ATs that had not seen the 2021 Consensus Statements and were not confident in implementing them. Findings highlight the need to continue improving messaging about access to best-practice recommendations. Further, continued efforts inclusive of active and passive dissemination strategies across all athletics constituents are needed to aid proper implementation.

Recommended water immersion duration for the field treatment of exertional heat stroke when rectal temperature is unavailable

INTRODUCTION

The recommended treatment for exertional heat stroke is immediate, whole-body immersion in < 10 °C water until rectal temperature (Tre) reaches ≤ 38.6 °C. However, real-time Tre assessment is not always feasible or available in field settings or emergency situations. We defined and validated immersion durations for water temperatures of 2-26 °C for treating exertional heat stroke.

METHODS

We compiled data for 54 men and 18 women from 7 previous laboratory studies and derived immersion durations for reaching 38.6 °C Tre. The resulting immersion durations were validated against the durations of cold-water immersion used to treat 162 (98 men; 64 women) exertional heat stroke cases at the Falmouth Road Race between 1984 and 2011.

RESULTS

Age, height, weight, body surface area, body fat, fat mass, lean body mass, and peak oxygen uptake were weakly associated with the cooling time to a safe Tre of 38.6 °C during immersions to 2-26 °C water (R2 range: 0.00-0.16). Using a specificity criterion of 0.9, receiver operating characteristics curve analysis showed that exertional heat stroke patients must be immersed for 11-12 min when water temperature is ≤ 9 °C, and for 18-19 min when water temperature is 10-26 °C (Cohen's Kappa: 0.32-0.75, p < 0.001; diagnostic odds ratio: 8.63-103.27).

CONCLUSION

The reported immersion durations are effective for > 90% of exertional heat stroke patients with pre-immersion Tre of 39.5-42.8 °C. When available, real-time Tre monitoring is the standard of care to accurately diagnose and treat exertional heat stroke, avoiding adverse health outcomes associated with under- or over-cooling, and for implementing cool-first transport second exertional heat stroke policies.

Exertional Heat Illness: Adoption of Policies and Influencing Contextual Factors as Reported by Athletic Administrators

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the adoption by athletic administrators (AAs) of exertional heat illness (EHI) policies, and the corresponding facilitators and barriers of such policies within high school athletics. This study describes the adoption of comprehensive EHI policies by high school AAs and explores factors influencing EHI policy adoption.

HYPOTHESIS

We hypothesized that <50% of AAs would report adoption of an EHI policy, and that the most common facilitator would be access to an athletic trainer (AT), whereas the most common barrier would be financial limitations.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 4.

METHODS

A total of 466 AAs (82.4% male; age, 48 ± 9 years) completed a validated online survey to assess EHI prevention and treatment policy adoption (11 components), as well as facilitators and barriers to policy implementation. Access to athletic training services was ascertained by matching the participants' zip codes with the Athletic Training Locations and Services Project. Policy adoption, facilitators, and barriers data are presented as summary statistics (proportions, interquartile range (IQR)). A Welch t test evaluated the association between access to athletic training services and EHI policy adoption.

RESULTS

Of the AAs surveyed, 77.9% (n = 363) reported adopting a written EHI policy. The median of EHI policy components adopted was 5 (IQR = 1,7), with only 5.6% (n = 26) of AAs reporting adoption of all policy components. AAs who had access to an AT (P = 0.04) were more likely to adopt a greater number of EHI-related policies, compared with those without access to an AT. An AT employed at the school was the most frequently reported facilitator (36.9%).

CONCLUSION

Most AAs reported having written EHI policy components, and access to an AT resulted in a more comprehensive policy.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Employment of an AT within high school athletics may serve as a vital component in facilitating the adoption of comprehensive EHI policies.

Proper Recognition and Management of Exertional Heat Stroke in a High School Cross-Country Runner: A Validation Clinical Case Report

A 14-year-old female high school cross- country runner (height = 154 cm, mass = 48.1 kg) with no history of exertional heat stroke (EHS) collapsed at the end of a race. An athletic trainer assessed the patient, who presented with difficulty breathing and then other signs of EHS (eg, confusion and agitation). The patient was taken to the medical area and draped with a towel, and a rectal temperature (Tre) of 106.9°F (41.6°C) was obtained. The emergency action plan was activated, and emergency medical services was called. The patient was submerged in a cold-water immersion tub until emergency medical services arrived (∼15 minutes; Tre = 100.1°F; cooling rate: 0.41°F.min-1[0.25°C.min-1]). At the hospital, the patient received intravenous fluids, and urine and blood tests were normal. She was not admitted and returned to running without sequelae. Following best practices, secondary school athletic trainers can prevent deaths from EHS by properly recognizing the condition and providing rapid cooling before transport.

High Schools' Adoption of Evidence-Based Practices for the Management of Exertional Heat Stroke

CONTEXT

Exertional heat stroke (EHS) deaths can be prevented by adhering to best practices.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate high schools' adoption of policies and procedures for recognizing and treating patients with EHS and the factors influencing the adoption of a comprehensive policy.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Online questionnaire.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

Athletic trainers (ATs) practicing in the high school (HS) setting.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Using the National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement on exertional heat illness, we developed an online questionnaire and distributed it to ATs to ascertain their schools' current written policies for using rectal temperature and cold-water immersion. The precaution adoption process model allowed for responses to be presented across the various health behavior stages (unaware if have the policy, unaware of the need for the policy, unengaged, undecided, decided not to act, decided to act, acting, and maintaining). Additional questions addressed perceptions of facilitators and barriers. Data are presented as proportions.

RESULTS

A total of 531 ATs completed the questionnaire. Overall, 16.9% (n = 62) reported adoption of all components for the proper recognition and treatment of EHS. The component with the highest adoption level was "cool first, transport second"; 74.1% (n = 110) of ATs described acting on or maintaining the policy. The most variability in the precaution adoption process model responses was for a rectal temperature policy; 28.7% (n = 103) of ATs stated they decided not to act and 20.1% (n = 72) stated they maintained the policy. The most frequently cited facilitator of and barrier to obtaining rectal temperature were a mandate from the state HS athletics association (n = 274, 51.5%) and resistance to or apprehension of parents or legal guardians (n = 311, 58.5%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Athletic trainers in the HS setting appeared to be struggling to adopt a comprehensive EHS strategy, with rectal temperature continuing as the biggest challenge. Tailored strategies based on health behavior, facilitators, and barriers may aid in changing this paradigm.

Exertional Heat Stroke Knowledge and Management among Emergency Medical Service Providers

This study evaluated emergency medical services (EMS) providers' knowledge of exertional heat stroke (EHS) and assessed current EMS capabilities for recognizing and managing EHS. EMS providers currently practicing in the United States were recruited to complete a 25-item questionnaire. There were 216 questionnaire responses (183 complete) representing 28 states. On average, respondents were 42.0 ± 13.0 years old, male (n = 163, 75.5%), and white (n = 176, 81.5%). Most respondents were Paramedics (n = 110, 50.9%) and had ≥16 years of experience (n = 109/214, 50.9%) working in EMS. Fifty-five percent (n = 99/180) of respondents had previously treated a patient with EHS. The average number of correct answers on the knowledge assessment was 2.6 ± 1.2 out of 7 (~37% correct). Temporal (n = 79), tympanic (n = 76), and oral (n = 68) thermometers were the most prevalent methods of temperature assessment available. Chemical cold packs (n = 164) and air conditioning (n = 134) were the most prevalent cooling methods available. Respondents demonstrated poor knowledge regarding EHS despite years of experience, and over half stating they had previously treated EHS in the field. Few EMS providers reported having access to an appropriate method of assessing or cooling a patient with EHS. Updated, evidence-based training needs to be provided and stakeholders should ensure their EMS providers have access to appropriate equipment.